Superman and Lex Luthor: Imagining a Friendship in Another Life

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1!

The enduring rivalry between Superman and Lex Luthor is one of the most iconic in the DC Universe. However, under different circumstances, these two could have been as close as brothers. Despite Lex’s deep-seated hatred for the Last Son of Krypton, there was a time when a genuine bond existed between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor long before animosity took root.

A Connection from the Very Beginning

Lex’s Unique Opportunity to Help Clark

In the latest issue, Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1, penned by Joshua Williamson with art from Eddy Barrows and others, Mister Terrific summons Superman to the Watchtower. He is pursuing a project aimed at reaching the Absolute Universe, but he finds himself in need of Lex Luthor’s unmistakable intellect. However, due to a recent bout of amnesia, Lex expresses his desire to abandon his former self.

Lex’s memory loss stems from last year’s “House of Brainiac”crossover event. Flashbacks throughout the issue provide insight into Lex’s troubled upbringing in Smallville, where his extraordinary talents were belittled by his father, Lionel Luthor. One pivotal moment occurs when Lionel takes young Lex into town, where Lex purchases a radio wave emitter to create a device intended to send signals into space.

Lex Luthor's Signal Stops Baby Clark's Crying DC

During their outing, they encounter Martha and Jonathan Kent, who are struggling to soothe a fussy baby Clark. As tensions mount at home, Lionel lashes out at his son, labeling him a ‘freak’ for his impressive intellect. Feeling dejected, Lex escapes into the fields to connect with anyone who might hear his signal. He broadcasts a recording of himself playing the piano, which fortuitously reaches the Kent household. For the first time since arriving on Earth, baby Superman calms and drifts into a peaceful sleep, completely unaware of who provided this solace.

Superman and Lex Luthor: Outsiders Who Could Have Been Friends

Fateful Destinies of DC’s Icons

Superman and Lex Luthor Fighting Side by Side DC

This exploration is not novel; DC Comics has previously suggested that a strong friendship between Superman and Lex could have flourished. Titles like Superman: Birthright and Superman: Secret Origin hinted at deeper connections. Yet, the current narrative dives further back in time, featuring young Lex at ages six or seven contrasted against baby Clark. Both characters found themselves positioned as societal outsiders; however, while Clark thrived under the loving care of the Kents, Lex suffered emotional trauma at the hands of his father.

The poignancy of this narrative lies in Lex’s clear desire for connection. His childhood efforts to reach out via his makeshift device reveal his desperation for understanding and acceptance—a fundamental need that his family repeatedly failed to meet. Ironically, Lex’s signal successfully connected with Clark, yet the infant was too young to comprehend its significance.

Tragically, had Lex recognized that his neighbor could hear him and appreciate his unique abilities, he might have fostered a lifelong friendship with Clark. Instead, Lex’s sense of isolation and perceived rejection guided him down a path of rivalry and enmity against Superman—a relationship that ultimately led him further into villainy instead of securing the companionship that could have transformed his life for the better.

Superman: Lex Luthor Special #1 is currently available from DC Comics, continuing to delve into this complex narrative.

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